Christian Churches and Churches of Christ; Lutz, Henry Frey, 1868-1926 -- Biography; Restoration movement (Christianity)
I have shown that the same rationalistic objections that are brought
against facts revealed in the Bible can be brought against facts
revealed in nature. The only sensible thing to do is to recognize the
limitations of our finite intellects and accept all well-authenticated
facts, whether revealed in the Bible or in nature. We must learn that
in the very nature of things our finite minds cannot fully grasp and
comprehend the infinite. Therefore we have God's revelation in the
Bible, which, though not the product of the human intellect, fully
satisfies its every reasonable demand.
We have also learned that man has by nature strong religious emotions,
which, if exercised, give great joy and peace. Even unguided by
revelation, they grope after God with the help of the finite intellect.
These emotions are blind and were never intended to give us light. They
are a source of great joy and power, but must be guided and filled by
divine revelation to be properly exercised. The neglect of this fact
has led to all kinds of mysticism and fanaticism. And while this is
better and more helpful than cold rationalism, it is nevertheless an
unsafe guide, and does more harm than good to humanity. Faithfulness
compels me to say that, as rationalism, so mysticism has found its way
into the evangelical churches and has done much to rob God's Word of
its power and to divide Christ's followers into warring camps. The
religion that does not thoroughly enlist, exercise and sanctify the
human emotions is not worth having; but we are not to believe every
spirit, but to try the spirits by the Word of God. Let us lay aside our
"think-so's" and "feel-so's," and let us turn to the revelation that
comes from above, that our intellects may be flooded with light and our
emotions may be submerged in God's love, so that our entire
being--body, mind and soul--may be filled, occupied and sanctified to
the glory of Christ.
With the Unitarian movement that started at the beginning of the last
century, with so many human instrumentalities back of it, let us
compare the Apostolic church which was started in the first third of
the first century by a handful of poor, illiterate and despised
Galileans. Although the wealth and culture and political power of the
world were all against them, at the end of the century we are told that
they numbered five hundred thousand.
Again let us compare with Unitarianism, this modern movement for the
restoration of primitive Christianity which started somewhat later than
Unitarianism. Its reproach in the eyes of men--that it has no
literature--is its glory in the eyes of God; for the Bible is its
literature. Its work has been done chiefly among and through the common
people. At the end of the century it numbered among its adherents more
than a million and a quarter. While sectarian churches numerically much
stronger report meager increases and even decreases, it reports an
average of over forty thousand increase for the last several years.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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